Bayern's Boateng eager to lift cup on home turf

10 May 2012 07:17

Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has said the prospect of lifting the German Cup in his home city of Berlin is all the motivation he needs against Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

Champions League finalists Bayern take on Dortmund at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Saturday night bidding to win the trophy for the 16th time in their distinguished history.

A week later, Bayern host Chelsea at Munich's Allianz Arena in the Champions League final, but 23-year-old Boateng, who was born and bred in Berlin, is focused on lifting the German Cup for the first time in his career.

"My closest friends will be in the stadium, I wish I could have got more tickets," said Boateng, the son of a German mother and Ghanaian father whose half-brother Kevin-Prince stars for AC Milan.

"Berlin is a huge motivation for me, because I grew up there.

"I want to win the trophy in my home city of Berlin."

Boateng started his career at minnow Tennis Borussia Berlin before making his Bundesliga debut in 2007 for Hertha Berlin.

He then switched to Hamburg and Manchester City before joining Bayern last summer.

He was part of the Hamburg team which lost on penalties to Werder Bremen in the semi-finals in 2009 and is eager to get his hands on the trophy for the first time.

Having lost all of their last four games to Dortmund, Boateng says Saturday will be the perfect time to beat the German champions, who are bidding for the first league and cup double in their 103-year history.